About Lead: Sources & Exposure
The effects of lead exposure are not reversible. The goal is to prevent childhood lead exposure before harm occurs by removing lead hazards from the environment.
Sources of Lead Hazards
Lead is a toxic metal and can be found in paint, soil, jewelry, toys, home remedies, ceramics, candy, and water. Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are by far the most common form of lead exposure for children in Cleveland. Over 90 percent of rental units in the City of Cleveland were built before 1978—the year consumer use of lead-based paint was banned nationally. Because of this, many residents, especially low-income renters of color, may have trouble finding homes that are safe from lead hazards.
Surfaces in the home that rub against each other, like windows and doors, can produce leaded dust that ends up on surfaces or floats in the air. People can ingest or inhale the toxin when they spend time in areas where this dust is present. Children—especially those under the age of six—are most at risk. It takes less than a teaspoon of dust—the size of a sugar packet—to cause serious, long-term harm.
Sources of Lead Hazards FAQs
How can I find out if my home has lead hazards?
A risk assessment determines if there are any lead hazards, such as peeling paint and lead dust, and what actions to take to address these hazards. The Lead Safe Resource Center can also assist in identifying lead risk assessors.
Where are lead hazards most often found in homes?
Lead paint is still present in many homes built before 1978, sometimes under layers of newer paint. If the paint is in good shape, the lead paint is usually not a hazard. Deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, damaged, or damp) is a hazard and needs immediate attention. It may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear, such as: windows & windowsills, doors & door frames, stairs, railings, banisters, and porches.
"You can get it from the lead dust, which is not obvious to the eye."
Robin B
Mother, Community Voice
Effects of Lead Exposure
Lead builds up in the body, often over months or years, causing serious health problems that often are not detected until years after exposure. Sometimes, signs of lead poisoning may not show up until adulthood.
Lead is present in the bones of women who were exposed as children, and it can be released into the bloodstream during pregnancy, becoming a source of exposure to the developing fetus. This exposure can cause:
- Miscarriage
- Fetal malformations
- Reduced fetal growth
- Premature birth
- Stillbirth
- Low birth weight
Extremely high doses of lead, which are rarely seen in the United States today, can cause seizures, coma and death.
Even much lower levels can damage the brain, heart, bones and kidneys as well as the nervous system, resulting in neurological effects. Examples include:
- Impaired memory and executive function—the ability to plan, remember instructions and juggle multiple tasks.
- Depression, anxiety and withdrawn behavior—the tendency to avoid unfamiliar people, places or situations.
- Decreased IQ and poor academic performance.
- Behavioral issues with impulsivity, hyperactivity and attention disorders.
- Problems with hearing and speech.
There is no safe amount of lead in a child's blood. Lead can be especially problematic among populations experiencing other developmental risk factors, all of which can impair school readiness and achievement.
Lead poisoning creates a toxic baseline to which all other risks are added.
Lead Poisoning Effects FAQs
What is lead poisoning and is there a cure?
Lead poisoning occurs when children are exposed to lead contamination in what they eat, drink, touch or breathe.
Many factors affect how individual bodies handle exposure to lead. These factors include a person’s age, nutritional status and genetic makeup as well as the source of lead and length of exposure.
Young children are at highest risk. While multiple organ systems are affected, effects on the developing brain, manifesting as difficulties with learning, attention, behavior, hearing and speech are of particular concern.
There is no cure for lead poisoning. That is why preventing exposure to lead, especially among children, is so important.
For children who are tested and found to have an elevated blood lead level, it is critical that sources of lead hazards are found and removed from the child’s environment to prevent further exposure.
While there is no cure, parents can help reduce the effects of lead poisoning by talking to their primary care provider, stopping exposure, ensuring a healthy diet with adequate iron and calcium and providing an enriching environment to support children’s development and learning. For children with very high blood lead levels, medical therapy requiring hospitalization may be necessary.
What should I do if I think my child or I have been exposed to lead?
A blood lead test is the only way to find out if someone has been exposed to lead and has a detectable blood lead level. Talk to your child’s primary care provider or local health agency about getting a simple blood test to check for lead exposure. Your primary care provider can help decide whether a blood lead test is needed and can also recommend appropriate follow-up actions.
Children living in high risk zip codes (which includes all of the city of Cleveland), and children insured by Medicaid, should be tested at age 1 and 2 years, failing which they should have at least one blood lead test done prior to the age of 6. This is required by law. In addition, children who do not meet these criteria should be tested if there is a clinical suspicion of lead exposure based on additional risk factors that can be assessed by a primary care provider. It is worth noting that children who have recently moved to the United States from abroad, especially refugees, should be tested.
Pregnant women should talk to their primary care provider about exposure to sources of lead. The most important step expectant parents can take to prevent lead poisoning is to find and safely remove lead hazards in their home.
What resources are available for children who are already poisoned by lead?
Childhood lead exposure can have a significant negative effect on children’s development. Parents should talk to their child’s primary care provider about optimizing nutrition and healthy development. Most importantly, further exposure should be stopped.
Beginning July 1, 2019, children with a confirmed blood lead level of five micrograms or greater are automatically eligible for Early Intervention in Ohio. Bright Beginnings offer resources for children up to 36 months. If the child is 3 or younger, they will be automatically referred to Early Intervention. The referral may take a few days (Ohio Department of Health sends a list weekly to Bright Beginnings). Bright Beginnings will call the family to follow up. Families can also self-refer, and must have documentation of the blood lead level.
Learn more and make a referral. You can also call 216-698-7500 or 800-755-4769 for more information or to make referral.
If the child is 3-5 (or older), the family should contact the local school district. The schools will complete a global developmental assessment.
Enrolling children ages 3-5 in high-quality preschool is also recommended. Contact Starting Point at 216-575-0061 or visit cuyahogakids.org.
Contact the Lead Safe Resource Center for referrals to other resources.
What steps can I take to prevent exposure to lead in the home/environment?
- Wash children’s hands often, and before eating and toys, as well as their bottles, pacifiers, and any other items a child often puts in his or her mouth. Regularly clean floors, windowsills, and dusty places with wet mops or wet cloths to pick up any dust. Use two buckets - one for soap and one for rinsing.
- Use only cold tap water for making baby formula, drinking, and cooking. Let the water run for a few minutes before you use it.
- Remove shoes before entering the home/property. Remove work clothes before entering the house, for any household member who does construction or other work that may involve lead. Wash these clothes separately from other items.
- Look out for peeling paint in houses built before 1978. If renting, report it to the property owner so repairs can get made. If you own, repair it safely. To find out more about repairing peeling paint safely, contact the Lead Safe Resource Center.
